A viral question has taken over the internet as countries around the world are banning Indian food exports because it is unsafe, contaminated, or even “poisonous.”
India, which is the land of spices, mangoes, and the world’s largest exporter of rice, has been making headlines globally, and this time, for all the wrong reasons. Countries like China and Japan have restricted certain Indian food export items.
All of this brings us to one question: Are Indian food products so harmful that they’re being banned worldwide?
India As A Global Food Exporter
Before addressing the controversies, it is important to first understand India’s position in the global food export market.
India isn’t just an important producer of agricultural goods; it tops the list of exporters too. From aromatic beverages like tea and coffee to spices that carry stories of the towns they come from, India is one of the world’s largest suppliers of these goods.
India As The Spice Capital Of The World
According to the Press Information Bureau, in the Financial Year 2025, India’s agricultural exports totalled USD 51.1 billion. Agricultural and food exports, along with processed food products, totalled USD 49.43 billion, accounting for 11.2 per cent of total exports.
During 2023-24, India exported USD 1,508.94 million worth of chilli, emerging as the top exporter of the spice. This was followed by cumin and other oil spices, which amounted to USD 700.23 million and USD 498.01 million, respectively.
These spices are exported from India to about 200 different countries, notable names among which include China, the USA, the UAE, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Germany, making up about 60 per cent of the country’s total export earnings.
India’s Dominance In The Global Rice Market
When it comes to rice, no other country leads the chart ahead of India. According to the US Department of Agriculture, during 2024-25, India exported around 21.69 million tonnes of rice, surpassing the 8.06 million tonnes and 7.86 million tonnes exported by Vietnam and Thailand, respectively.
Furthermore, during 2024-25, India secured the label of being the largest producer of rice, with outputs of 150 million tonnes, overshadowing China’s figure of 145.28 million tonnes. India accounts for about 40 per cent of total rice exports globally.
As per the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), a few of India’s top buyers include Saudi Arabia, Benin, Iraq, Iran, Guinea, Cote D’Ivoire, the United Arab Emirates, and Togo.
India As The Home Of Mangoes
India is also home to mangoes, a fruit that is widely loved during summers. India produces about 45 per cent of the world’s mangoes, making it one of the world’s largest producers of the fruit. As per APEDA, India produces about 1,000 varieties of the fruit. The market for Indian mangoes is valued at about USD 2.90 billion as of 2025 and is estimated to increase to about USD 3.97 billion by 2030.
Among the top buyers is the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by volume. As per recent trade and export data for 2024-25, about 12,897 metric tonnes were exported to the UAE alone. This was followed by the United Kingdom, which imported about 4,367 metric tonnes of mangoes from India during 2024-25.
The USA, Nepal, Oman, and Japan are among the many other countries that import Indian mangoes, reflecting the fruit’s growing popularity in the market.
Similarly, India is also home to various other agricultural export products that have become a part of hundreds of cuisines across the globe. However, recent reports involving Indian food products have been attracting attention globally.
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What Went Wrong?
The most recent frenzy around Indian food products began when Japan, which had been an importer of Indian mangoes for nearly two decades, suspended Indian mango imports after an inspection of Vapour Heat Treatment (VHT) facilities by Japanese officials.
This year, during their inspection in March in Mehmanpur, Uttar Pradesh, deficiencies were reportedly found in the disinfection procedures. Following this, the Yokohama Plant Protection Association notified authorities that all consignments carrying Indian mangoes had been suspended. It was further stated that the suspension would remain in effect until Japan was satisfied with the quality of Indian mangoes again.
Speaking to ET, a Pune-based exporter said, “I am not aware of the exact reasons behind the Japanese restrictions on Indian mangoes. However, I can confirm that we are not exporting mangoes to Japan this year.”
This, however, isn’t the first time an Indian food export has been suspended. Earlier in 2024, Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety suspended famous Indian spice brands like Everest and MDH after the discovery of the carcinogenic pesticide ethylene oxide, a pesticide that is not advisable for consumption.
The report read, “The CFS collected the above-mentioned samples from three retail outlets in Tsim Sha Tsui, respectively, for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test results showed that the samples contained a pesticide, ethylene oxide. The CFS has informed the vendors concerned of the irregularities and instructed them to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected products.”
The report further stated, “A food for human consumption containing pesticide residue may only be sold if consumption of the food is not dangerous or prejudicial to health.”
Earlier that year, a similar notice was released by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) against Everest Fish Curry Masala, which had also been found to contain ethylene oxide in its products.
In a statement to The Times of India, Everest said, “We strictly follow the highest hygiene and food safety standards and norms laid down by the authorities concerned and statutory bodies like the Indian Spice Board, FSSAI and others. However, we are awaiting an official communication to understand the issue and our quality control team will look into the matter.”
Furthermore, three Indian companies, namely Spone Enterprises in Raipur, Shriram Food Industry in Nagpur, and NM Foodimpex in Haryana, also received a suspension of their Chinese import licences after consignments carrying rice were reportedly found to contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
So, Is Indian Food Really That Dangerous?
These incidents raise one question: Are these cases isolated, or do they point towards a deeper problem taking place within India?
Following the claims by Hong Kong’s CFS, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) conducted tests to determine the quality of the flagged spices. However, it was found that, out of the spices tested, the majority passed the safety checks and showed no signs of ethylene oxide (EtO). An official said, “Out of 34 reports, 28 reports show no traces of ethylene oxide.”
However, these findings do not label all Indian food exports as unsafe. Most of these findings depend on specific batches, products and other standards of regulations set across different countries and not on all food products exported.
Furthermore, responding to the claims made by China regarding Indian rice, a trade source told BusinessLine, “India has firmly said no GM rice is grown in the country. Despite the Chinese knowing this, they are rejecting our consignments. It signals that they are indulging in some trade war with India.”
Another source said, “China is trying to spoil our image. It is known to do such things and has done this before.”
While recent incidents have raised concerns regarding Indian food exports, the evidence does not support a complete ban on these products. Some of these incidents highlight a need for increased scrutiny, whereas others hint at trade-related tensions rather than proven health risks.
However, the takeaway from these cases for India is that, given its scale and export market, maintaining the quality of its products has become more important than ever. As the growing demand for Indian goods continues to rise, increased scrutiny from global consumers urges India to remain on its toes.
Images: Google Images
Sources: Press Information Bureau, APEDA, The Economic Times
Find the blogger: @shubhangichoudhary_29
This post is tagged under: Indian food exports, Indian spices, MDH controversy, Everest spices, Japan mango ban, Indian mango exports, India rice exports, China GMO rice, food safety India, ethylene oxide, FSSAI, APEDA, Indian agriculture, food export restrictions, global trade, Indian food products, export controversy, India exports, mango exports, spice exports
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